Free No One's Chosen by Randall Fitzgerald Page B

friend. "Have you no mind
for the other folk?"
    "Come down! I've something to show you!"
    Teas sighed. "Fine. Wait in the shop while I
dress."
    It wasn't that Óraithe hated Teas's father, or even
the shop, or scrivenry or what-have-you, but he seemed to have no
overabundance of caring for her. This wasn't a particular surprise
to Óraithe as surely it had been she who was responsible for Teas's
change from a shy and quiet girl into something more… brash.
    She walked into the shop hoping the owner would be in
the back. No such luck.
    "Óraithe. Was that your lovely voice I heard
beckoning the neighborhood to greet the morning?"
    Óraithe pretended she was absorbed in the scrolls and
bound books on the table at the front of the shop. She tried,
anyway. She could feel the eyes of Teas's father on her back.
    "What am I? Some thief?" she thought. The look was
too much. She turned, figuring she ought to at least be cordial.
"How goes the shop?"
    The stately northerner showed her a conflicted
expression. "Poorly, to have the truth of it. Words and their
accompaniment are not near so brisk a trade here as they were in
the north. I suppose that has always been the case, but, of late,
the situation has only worsened."
    "Oh?" Óraithe was genuinely curious, sure. As the
shop went, so went Teas. Well, more or less, she figured.
    "The hordes to the south have been making northward.
Word is that satyr scouting parties have been engaging raider bands
in the high desert, even. Though the High District makes their
assurances, folk still act as they will. And that means saving
money for food when the times get lean."
    "Why do you suppose—" Óraithe was interrupted by the
sound of footsteps upon the stairs.
    Teas had been mercifully brief in getting ready. As
soon as the girl was in arm's length, Óraithe grabbed her and made
for the door, bidding her father good day.
    Teas was wearing awkward shoes. They were a strap
covered affair that were a size too large for her easily. They
slowed to a walk after there was some distance opened between the
two and the shop.
    "Does my father scare you so much?" Teas seemed
somewhere between mocking and genuine concern.
    "Not scare," Óraithe said. "It's more… jealousy, I
think."
    "Jealousy?" Teas's face puzzled at the word.
    "Well, you see Teas," Óraithe had the look of a
predator on her face, "you are a delicious morsel and I just can't
imagine sharing you with anyone."
    Óraithe pounced on her friend and both went sprawling
to the ground, Teas letting out a yelp. Óraithe proceeded to bite
the poor girl on the arms and shoulders, poking at her ribs and
side. Teas was squealing and squirming under the attack.
    "Haaahahahahah! Yield! Yield!" Teas was breathless
with laughter.
    Óraithe seemed satisfied with that and climbed to her
feet. She held down a hand and pulled Teas up beside her.
    Teas brushed the dirt from her clothes. "I'd rather
not be meat, if I'm honest."
    "But you are meat! Delicious northern meat."
    "So what was it you wanted me for? Father is sure
to—"
    "Right! I have a something you simply have to see!
It's going to change everything."
    Óraithe led Teas to the old, dirt-caked door and
presented it as though it were some succulent cut of mutton.
    Teas stared at the door, waiting for some magic
perhaps. Waiting for something. Nothing happened, however. Well,
nothing other than Óraithe standing before a shoddy door grinning
like a fool.
    "What does it do?"
    Óraithe shrugged with her entire body, defeated.
"Sisters, Teas. It doesn't… just look!"
    Óraithe pulled on the door and it wrenched open with
some effort. She came around the door and walked inside, motioning
to Teas to follow. "Come, come!" The inside was as dirty and dusty
and glorious as Óraithe had left it. "See?"
    Teas was still reaching for understanding, based on
her look. "I…" she paused, again looking around as if trying to see
the room through the Óraithe's eyes. "No."
    "Bah! It's perfect, Teas!"
    "Perfect for